I'm a jazz guitarist, music educator, instrument repair technician, and AI instructor based in St. John's, Newfoundland. I founded Brad Jefford Music in 2005. Twenty years on, the work runs in four lanes that share the same core: helping people develop a real relationship with something challenging and rewarding.

Performing. I lead the Brad Jefford Trio (jazz), perform as a solo guitarist, and freelance as a guitarist and musical director across Atlantic Canada. I've been a regular performing member of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and Spirit of Newfoundland since 2009, and Musical Director at St. Mark's Anglican Church since 2018. My debut solo album, Before The Rain, came out in 2017, produced by Bill Brennan. Earlier, the Brad Jefford Trio+ album Ageless was nominated for Jazz/Blues Recording of the Year at the 2011 MusicNL Awards. I've been the musical director with Janet Cull for seven years, and the album we worked on together was nominated for R&B/Soul Album of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards. In 2007, I received the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Ottawa Jazz Festival.

Teaching. I teach private lessons in guitar, bass, mandolin, and ukulele to students of all ages and levels. Styles include jazz, classical, folk, rock, blues, country, and Newfoundland traditional. Former students include professional artists Paddy Byrne, Darren "Boobie" Browne, and Peter Smith of the Youngtree Band. I hold a B.Mus in Jazz Studies from St. Francis Xavier University (2007), and a B.Mus.Ed (2020) and M.Mus (2024) from Memorial University. I studied with Berklee professor Mick Goodrick in 2009 on an ArtsNL/MusicNL grant.

 

Repair. I'm a repair technician for guitars, basses, and fretted instruments. I take setups, intonation, fret level and dress, and electronics installs. Work comes by referral.

 

AI instruction and consulting. Since June 2025, my full-time focus has been teaching applied AI at Keyin College. I also build AI tools, prompt libraries, and assessments for music teachers, studio owners, and small businesses. The teaching philosophy that runs through all of it: most instruction teaches you the steps to do. I teach you how to think to innovate. This is true for music and for AI tools.